Resumo em Inglês:

The authors report the experience of a high-volume center with laparoscopic surgery in urological oncology, as well as a review of other relevant series. Laparoscopic outcomes in the treatment of adrenal, kidney, upper tract transitional cell carcinoma, bladder, prostate, and testicular malignancy are described in this review. Specific considerations as complications and port-site recurrence are also addressed. The authors concluded that the intermediate-term oncological data is encouraging and comparable to open surgery.

Resumo em Inglês:

Overactive bladder is commonly treated with oral anticholinergic drugs such as oxybutynin chloride. Although oral anticholinergic agents have been effective in controlling urinary urgency and incontinence, adverse events, particularly dry mouth, often cause patients to discontinue oral therapy and to endure incontinence. Oxybutynin can be delivered transcutaneously, maintaining the efficacy of oral oxybutynin while significantly minimizing side effects (e.g., dry mouth) that may complicate therapy. By avoiding hepatic and gastrointestinal metabolism of oxybutynin, less N-desethyloxybutynin (N-DEO) is produced and this compound is deemed to be responsible for anticholinergic side effects such as dry mouth. This novel oxybutynin formulation offers patients with OAB and urge urinary incontinence a well-tolerated option for managing the symptoms of overactive bladder.

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INTRODUCTION: We report our experience with 43 retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy for benign kidney disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients had a poor function from obstructive uropathology and renal atrophy. None of these patients had a previous lumbotomy. Retroperitoneoscopy was performed with 4 trocar port technique in a lateral position. The retroperitoneal space is created by using a Gaur's balloon made of sterile glove. The approach to vascular pedicle was done posteriorly and vessels were clipped by metal and Hem-o-lock (Weck Closure Systems, North Carolina, USA) clips. The sample was intact extracted in an Endo-Bag prolonging one trocar incision. RESULTS: Median operative time was 160 minutes and median blood loss was 200 mL. Four cases (9%) were converted to open surgery: one case due to bleeding and 3 cases due to technical difficulties regarding perirenal adherences. Most patients (39) checked out from the Hospital in day two. Four of them were left over 3 days due to wound complications. CONCLUSIONS: Retroperitoneoscopy offers a safe, effective and reproductive access to nephrectomy for benign pathologies.

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OBJECTIVE: We examined our database of patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) with orthotopic neobladder (NB) to determine whether adjuvant chemotherapy in this group is safe. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent radical cystectomy and urinary diversion between 1992 and 2004. Relevant clinical and therapeutic data were entered into a database. High-risk bladder cancer patients who underwent NB were identified. They were stratified into 2 groups, those who received adjuvant chemotherapy and those who did not. The incidence of complications between the 2 groups was analyzed and compared. RESULTS: Over the 12-year period, 136 patients underwent RC and NB construction for bladder cancer. Of these, 83 patients were at high risk for recurrence. Nineteen patients received adjuvant chemotherapy and 64 did not. The complication rate in the adjuvant chemotherapy group was 53% and it was 23% in those who did not receive chemotherapy. There were no perioperative or treatment related death. There were 2 patients with grade 4 toxicity in the adjuvant chemotherapy group. There was a statistical difference between these two groups with regard to the incidence of complications. However, none of these complications was life-threatening, required only conservative treatment and caused no long-term disability. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant chemotherapy is a safe treatment for patients undergoing RC and NB substitution. Hence, the option of orthotopic NB should not be denied in selected bladder cancer patients with high risk for recurrent disease.

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OBJECTIVE: We studied the long-term outcome of radical cystectomy for transitional cell carcinoma and evaluated prognostic factors for disease specific survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was carried out for all cystectomies performed for transitional cell carcinoma between 1989 and 2002. Disease specific survival was correlated to patient, pathological and operative factors as well as to adjuvant therapy. RESULTS: Of the 133 cystectomies included, 100 were male and 33 were female patients. The median age was 69 years (range 43 to 86). The median follow up was 20 months (range 0 to 158). With univariate analysis, pT stage, N stage, lymph node density, carcinoma in-situ, surgical margin and post-operative radiotherapy to distant metastasis were predictive of disease specific survival. On the other hand, with multivariate analysis, only pT stage, lymph node density and post-operative radiotherapy to distant metastasis were predictive of disease specific survival. Within the group of node positive disease, lymph node density also predicted disease specific survival with both univariate and multivariate analyses. Patients with lymph node density 20% or below showed better disease specific survival. CONCLUSIONS: pT stage and lymph node density were found to be the most important predictive factors for disease specific survival after cystectomy in the Asian population.

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OBJECTIVES: The treatment of recurrent prostate cancer after radiotherapy or brachytherapy through radical prostatectomy has been little indicated due to the concern over the procedure's morbidity. We present the experience of our service with postradiotherapy radical prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1996 and 2002, 9 patients submitted to radiotherapy due to prostate cancer were treated with salvage surgery for locally recurrent disease. All patients had a biopsy of the prostate confirming the tumor recurrence, increase in the PSA levels and staging without evidence of a systemic disease. We have assessed the morbidity and the recurrence-free survival rate after salvage radical prostatectomy. RESULTS: Preradiotherapy PSA varied from 6.2 to 50 ng/mL (mean 17.3) and clinical staging T1, T2 and T3 in 33.3%, 44.4% and 22.2% of the patients respectively. The interval for the biopsy after conforming external beam radiotherapy or brachytherapy varied from 8 to 108 months (median: 36). Four patients received antiandrogenic therapy neoadjuvant to the surgery with a mean of 7 months (1-48) after radiotherapy. From the six patients potent before the surgery, three have presented erectile dysfunction. Urinary incontinence as well as bladder neck sclerosis occurred in two patients (22.2%). Biochemical recurrence occurred in two individuals (22.2%) 12 months after the surgery. Biochemical recurrence-free survival rate was 77.8% with median follow-up time of 30 months (8-102). CONCLUSION: Salvage radical prostatectomy is a safe and effective alternative for the treatment of locally recurrent prostate cancer after radiotherapy and brachytherapy.

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Eggshell calcification of kidney in case of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is an uncommon finding with only a few cases reported in literature. We report a thirty-year-old symptomatic man with curvilinear calcification in hydronephrotic right kidney. Thorough investigations to rule out genitourinary tuberculosis and hydatid disease of kidney were performed prior to the definitive management by laparoscopic approach.

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The incidence of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) in patients submitted to hemodialysis is low. The presence of TCC with sarcomatoid features in this cohort is even scarcer. Herein, we describe a very rare case of synchronous multicentric muscle invasive bladder carcinoma with prostate invasion in a hemodialysis patient, submitted to complete en bloc urinary exenteration.

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INTRODUCTION: Bladder sarcomatoid carcinoma is a very rare variant of transitional cell carcinoma. With disputed nomenclature, the tumor has been described previously under a variety of names such as sarcomatoid carcinoma, pseudosarcoma, malignant mixed mesodermal/Müllerian tumor, metaplastic carcinoma and spindle cell carcinoma. This malignancy represents 0.3% of all bladder tumors and has an aggressive behavior yielding a poor prognosis despite radio and chemotherapy. CASE REPORT: An 81 y/o man presented with a transitional cell carcinoma and underwent a transurethral resection. Adjuvant onco-BCG was introduced. After 9 months of follow-up, a local tumoral recurrence occurred and a new transurethral resection revealed sarcomatoid carcinoma with osseous elements. A radical cystoprostatectomy was then carried out.

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Seminal vesicle tumor is a rare disease with unclear origin. Generally, it is presented as a pelvic mass that can be detected by sonography and digital rectal exam. The authors report a 25-year-old patient with a pelvic mass which the magnetic resonance and surgical specimen reveal a seminal vesicle tumor. Immunohistochemical findings favored a primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the seminal vesicle. Herein, the treatment, histological and histochemical findings of this entity are discussed.

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INTRODUCTION: The incidence of Ad spermatogonia (stem cells for fertility) was assessed in 20 cryptorchid patients, all of whom had a successful orchidopexy in childhood but developed azoospermia following puberty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From a cohort of 231 patients who had a semen analysis following successful orchidopexy 20 patients (9%) had azoospermia. The patients were classified into 2 groups according to the time of surgery: A = < 21 months of age (n = 5, mean = 10.7 ± 8.6 months) and B = during childhood (n = 15, mean = 10.1 ± 3 years). Nine of the 20 patients (45%) had bilateral cryptorchidism: A = 1 and B = 8. Testicular biopsies were performed during orchidopexy and analyzed with semi-thin technique. The number of Ad spermatogonia and entire number of germ cells was determined. The patients' semen analyses were evaluated at least twice; FSH and testosterone plasma values were estimated. RESULTS: In group A, all patients had germ cells at the time of surgery (mean = 1.04 ± 1.4 germ cells per tubular cross section); only 6 patients in group B (40%) had no germ cells (mean = 0.17 ± 0.4); A vs. B, p = 0.0133. Importantly, Ad spermatogonia were absent in the entire study population. The plasma FSH of 16 patients (80%) was abnormal [median = 16.35 IU/L (Interquartile range of sample - IQR 9.075-27.85 95% CI, 3-53)] while the plasma testosterone of all the patients was normal. CONCLUSIONS: The most severe cause of infertility in cryptorchid patients cannot be mitigated by an early successful surgery alone.

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We report a successful surgical intervention to repair bilateral ureteral strictures in a child with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) and ureteral calcinosis. This is the fourth reported case in medical literature. A 9-year-old-girl with severe JDM, a rare connective tissue disease characterized by skin and muscles vasculitis, was under immunosuppressive therapy. In the course of the disease, she presented recurrent urinary tract infections. Bilateral ureteral dilation was detected by ultrasound (US) and intravenous pyelogram (IVP). CT scan showed bilateral ureteral calculus. Ureteroscopy revealed bilateral ureteral calcinosis, confirmed by histopathological analysis. Bilateral double-J stents were placed, resulting in transient improvement of ureteral dilation and infection, but only the surgical removal of abnormal ureteral portions was successful. In conclusion, endourological approach is recommended for diagnosis of urinary tract involvement by JDM because radiological evaluation can be misleading. The immunosuppressive treatment and the resection of damaged ureteral segments have allowed the control of urinary complications.

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OBJECTIVE: To explore patient preference for injectable therapy over open surgery in the treatment of urinary incontinence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-eight female patients presented for treatment of urinary incontinence. During the initial interview process, they were asked to quantify their preference for injectable therapy over surgery by specifying the lowest success rate they would accept and still try injectable therapy. The results were summarized and assessed in relation to patient age and history of previous urogynecologic surgery. RESULTS: The mean lowest acceptable success rate for all 58 surveyed patients was 34%, with 23 (40%) accepting a success rate of only 10%. Although not statistically significant, the data suggested that older patients may tend to accept lower success rates than younger patients (mean of 39% for patients aged less than 60 years compared to 22% for those aged 80 years or older). There was no difference in response based on history of previous urogynecologic surgery. CONCLUSION: Patients appear willing to accept a relatively low success rate for injectable therapy compared to open surgery.

Resumo em Inglês:

INTRODUCTION: Due to the evolution of extracorporeal lithotripsy equipment (ESWL) and presently, the fact that most part of the equipment does not present ultrasound to localize urinary calculi, a system that allows adapting ultrasound equipment to ESWL equipment was developed, disposing only of fluoroscopy. Thus, this equipment was developed and was tested in urinary stones in canine models, to check its precision in relation to fluoroscopy. METHOD: Seven male dogs were utilized with the introduction, in the bladder through the ureteral route, of chalkstones, with initial localization by fluoroscopy, with a further ultrasound coincidence check localization of the vesical stones, being submitted to ESWL with a 3-hour, 21 days and 60 days follow-up after the procedure. RESULTS: Success of localization in all animals was verified presenting elimination of stones in the first micturitions, after ESWL. No complications were verified in those animals for 60 days. CONCLUSION: We verified that this equipment can lead to an update of the equipment that use only fluoroscopy, increasing in this way, their technical capacity in the treatment of urinary calculi, mainly in cases of non-radiopaque stones.